Huge Thanks — Hand Stamped Sentiments Sketch Challenge #HSS476

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Stampin’ Up!’s brand new Big Little Things Stamp Set (released November 4th, 2025) is full of charm and heart. I couldn’t resist using the sweet manatee image for this week’s Hand Stamped Sentiments Sketch Challenge. It’s perfect for thank-you cards, birthdays, or just-because notes — and it pairs beautifully with subtle seaside tones.

Design Tip 💡

To get this soft ombré look on your background, lightly blend Lost Lagoon ink over your embossed panel using a Blending Brush. It highlights the raised areas and brings the waves to life.

Join the Challenge

I’d love for you to join this week’s Hand Stamped Sentiments Sketch Challenge! Use the sketch as your starting point and share your creation with us. Whether you go bold or subtle, it’s all about having fun and getting creative.

Here’s a full list of supplies used as well as a printable card recipe.


HSS476Download

Save this card idea to your Stampin’ Up! Sketch Inspiration board — it’s a fun layout you can reuse for so many themes.

When you shop with me – you also get a bonus Tutorial with an order over $65 ( before rewards, shipping and taxes).

Don’t live in Canada? You can still get this tutorial in my PDF shop: https://payhip.com/b/dya8j

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Merry & Bright for HSS Color Challenge #475

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This week’s Hand Stamped Sentiments Colour Challenge is a gorgeous one — featuring Cherry Cobbler, Secret Sea, and Pool Party. These colours come together beautifully for a rich, festive look that’s perfect for holiday cardmaking.

For my project, I pulled out the Merry Christmas stamp set — I just love that elegant, bold font! I paired it with the sweet poinsettia image from the Jolly Holly stamp set for a touch of classic Christmas charm.

The background layers showcase the Regal Distressed Designer Series Paper — that subtle pattern adds just the right amount of texture and warmth. To finish off the design, I tied on some Secret Sea ribbon for a soft pop of colour and shimmer.

A few stamped poinsettias and low profile sparkle dots complete the look for a simple yet stunning holiday greeting card.

If you haven’t yet, hop over to the Hand Stamped Sentiments Challenge Blog to see the rest of the design team’s creations — and play along with us this week!

Here’s a full list of supplies used as well as a printable card recipe.

Product List
HSS475 TutorialDownload

This cheerful card is perfect for holiday giving—and so much fun to create!

Want to Stamp With Me?

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RSVP now for the November 8th class

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Right now we also have 2 great starter kits deals to choose from! This is too good to pass up.

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GDP518 Sketch Challenge – Nests of Winter & Misty Moonlight Magic

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There’s something so elegant about a cool winter palette, and today’s card for the Global Design Project #518 Sketch Challenge captures that perfectly! I paired the Nests of Winter Designer Series Paper with Misty Moonlight, silver-edged ribbon, and rhinestones for a frosty, festive feel.

The sentiment from Jolly Holly was stamped in Misty Moonlight and layered on a Spotlight on Nature circle for the perfect focal point. This simple but striking design really lets the patterned paper and soft shimmer take center stage.

If you’d like to recreate this look, here’s a full list of supplies used as well as a printable card recipe.


thesearemystamps.com_cards_print_gdp518Download

I love how the sketch challenge layout gave me the perfect framework to build a clean and elegant holiday card that’s quick to assemble but still full of detail.

👉 Check out all the amazing inspiration from the Global Design Project #518 Challenge here and try the sketch yourself!

💙 Tip: If you love this colour combo, stock up on Misty Moonlight cardstock and ink before the holidays—they’re perfect for winter crafting projects.

Want to Stamp With Me?

Join my October Card Class to learn new techniques and create beautiful projects. Spots are limited, so reserve yours today!

RSVP now for the October 25th class

Don’t live nearby? You can find many PDF Tutorials in my shop:
👉 https://payhip.com/StampinWithLeahCardCardClassestoGo

Looking for even more inspiration and more ways to enjoy stamping? Join my Stampin’ Up! Ink Pad Pals team!

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HSS Sketch Challenge – Gingerbreadman Bundle

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I’m so excited to share my project for this week’s Hand Stamped Sentiments Sketch Challenge #473. For this card, I featured the Gingerbreadman Bundle from Stampin’ Up! to create a whimsical holiday design.

This card is full of sweet details:

  • A gingerbreadman, heat embossed in white on Pecan Pie cardstock.
  • A bold red banner stamped with “Season’s Eatings”.
  • Bright, cheerful die cut gumdrops.
  • Candy stripes from the Turtle-y Cute DSP for extra festive fun.

This project combines playful colors with holiday cheer and is a perfect way to spread smiles this season!

Here’s a full list of supplies used as well as a printable card recipe.


HSS473 card recipeDownload

This cheerful card is perfect for holiday giving—and so much fun to create!

Want to Stamp With Me?

Join my October Card Class to learn new techniques and create beautiful projects. Spots are limited, so reserve yours today!

RSVP now for the October 25th class
Live outside of Canada? You still have time to register!

Looking for even more inspiration and more ways to enjoy stamping? Join my Stampin’ Up! Ink Pad Pals team!

  • Save 20%+ on your orders.
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  • Enjoy our monthly team meetings with stamping fun and collaboration.

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GDP510 Sketch Challenge with Textured Notes

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This week’s GDP510 sketch challenge had me reaching for one of my current favourites – the Textured Notes bundle. I love how versatile this bundle is, and sketch challenges are always such a fun way to spark creativity.

For this design, I kept things clean and simple with a limited colour palette: Petal Pink and Secret Sea. The soft background paired perfectly with the bold leafy details. The bordered rectangle dies in this bundle are truly a standout – they add instant texture and dimension without overwhelming the design.

A few embellishments and a simple linen thread bow finish the look, keeping the sketch at the heart of the design.

How to Make This Card

  1. Start with a Secret Sea card base.
  2. Cut a Basic White panel using the largest Textured Notes Dies and stamp the textured circle image twice in Petal Pink for a soft background.
  3. Stamp the leafy branch image in 2nd generation Secret Sea ink, layering it over the circles.
  4. On a scrap piece of cardstock, stamp a third textured circle in Petal Pink Ink, fussy cut and adhere using Dimensionals.
  5. Stamp the larger leaves in full strength Secret Sea Ink, fussy cut and adhere them with Liquid Glue to the Petal Pink circle only.
  6. Stamp the sentiment in Versamark on Secret Sea cardstock, emboss in white, and use the Textured Notes dies to cut the long rectangle. Attach with Dimensionals.
  7. Tie a bow with Linen Thread and adhere just under the sentiment.
  8. Finish with a few Petal Pink embellishments from the Muted Palette Dots for a subtle touch of shine.

🛍️ Shop the Supplies:


And there you have it – a simple but elegant take on this week’s GDP510 sketch!

👉 Want to save this project? Download my printable recipe card

GDP 510 Textured NotesDownload

The Secret Sea Ink, cardstock and Muted Palette Dots are all on sale this month!! Make sure to grab all the In Color items during this sale – you can find ALL the products on the In Color Sale Special page ( or click the image below).

Don’t forget – you’ll earn Stampin’ Rewards on your purchase too!

Shop Here

📹 Want more inspiration? Be sure to follow me on YouTube or Facebook for tutorials, lives, and more!

👉 Looking for other ways to stamp with me?

If you are local – join my in person card class!

RSVP now for the Sept 13th class
See the details here: https://stampinwithleah.ca/2025/08/13/coneflower-celebrations-card-class-to-go-replay-kit-pdf-available/
SHOP HERE!

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See you next week for another Throwback Thursday creation!

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Coast to Coast Creators Blog Hop – Aug 2025 Sketch Challenge

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It’s time for another round of creative inspiration from talented Stampin’ Up!® demonstrators across Canada! Each month we share our unique take on a theme or challenge, and this time we’re working from a sketch challenge—a perfect way to spark creativity and help you try a fresh layout.

For my card, I reached for the Coneflower Celebrations bundle and combined it with the beautiful Country Woods 12×12 Designer Series Paper. I love the contrast of the bright, bold coneflower against the weathered, woodgrain background—it creates a rustic-yet-fresh summer vibe.

Card Details:

  • Base: Crumb Cake cardstock for a warm, neutral foundation.
  • DSP: Country Woods 12×12 DSP for the bottom panel and a coordinating textured strip.
  • Focal Image: Coneflower from Coneflower Celebrations, coloured in vibrant Strawberry Slush for a bold pop.
  • Sentiment: “Celebrating You!”—perfect for birthdays, achievements, or just because.
  • Accents: A soft splatter background, stitched edge details on the Everyday Arch, and Pressed Flower Motif embellishments for texture and interest.

Hop Along!

I hope my take on this sketch has inspired you! Be sure to check out the other amazing creations from my fellow Coast to Coast Creators by clicking the links below—you’re bound to find something that sparks your creativity.


Want to make this card?

You can! I have a full list of supplies below and a printable recipe card – or keep scrolling to find out more about my Coneflower Celebrations where you will make 4 other cards using the same materials!

🛒 Ready to shop the current supplies? Head to my store: https://www.stampinup.ca/?demoid=2189587 or use the items links below:


Here is a printable recipe card – with supplies and instrcutions:

C2C Aug 2025 – Coneflower CelebrationsDownload

Don’t forget – you’ll earn Stampin’ Rewards on your purchase too!

Shop Here

👉 Looking for other ways to stamp with me?

Make sure to watch my You Tube live each Wednesday – this week my card class to go features the Coneflower Celebrations Bundle as well – you can find me on You Tube and FB!

Coneflower Celebrations Card Class to Go, available from August 13–19, 2025. The class includes a video replay, PDF instructions, and options for a full kit or PDF-only version.
➡️ Click here for full details and to register

If you are local – join my in person card class!

RSVP now for the September 13th class
SHOP HERE!

Looking for even more ways to enjoy stamping? Join my Stampin’ Up! Ink Pad Pals team!

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HSS468 – Celebratory Sips Inspiration Challenge

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This week’s Hand Stamped Sentiments Inspiration Challenge (#HSS468) is filled with summery fun, so I reached for my Celebratory Sips 12×12 DSP and created a trio of refreshing drink elements to fussy cut. For the backdrop, I watercoloured loose circles on Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper using Azure Afternoon and Blueberry Bushel reinkers.

🌟 Watercolour Tip: Start by painting your circle shape with just water, then load your brush with a watered-down drop of reinker. When you add this to your wet area, the colour blooms beautifully, and using two shades together creates stunning blends and movement!

I mounted everything on Blueberry Bushel and Azure Afternoon cardstock, and finished the look with Strawberry Slush and Pretty in Pink Adhesive-backed Gems. A perfect “Cheers—it’s your day!” kind of card!

👉 Join the HSS468 challenge and get inspired: https://handstampedsentiments.blogspot.com/

Here is a full list of the supplies I used:


SHOP NOW

Want to Stamp With Me?

Join my July Card Class to learn new techniques and create beautiful projects. Spots are limited, so reserve yours today!

RSVP now for the July 26th class
July 15 – 22 you can get the full kit, after that the PDF is still available – find details here: https://stampinwithleah.ca/2025/07/16/card-class-replay-not-29-anymore-with-birthday-treats-ephemera/

We are in month 3 of the In Colour Club – but it’s not too late to join and get these fabulous colours!

A great way to get all the new colours!

Looking for even more inspiration and more ways to enjoy stamping? Join my Stampin’ Up! Ink Pad Pals team!

  • Save 20%+ on your orders.
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HSS467 Sketch Challenge | Featuring Coneflower Celebration

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It’s time for another Hand Stamped Sentiments challenge—this week is a sketch challenge and I absolutely loved working with it! I chose the stunning Coneflower Celebration bundle (currently out of stock—but more on that below!) to build my card around.

I paired it with elements from the Country Woods 12″ x 12″ Designer Series Paper for a warm and earthy base, then added a beautiful pop of colour with the Strawberry Slush 3/8″ Faux Linen Ribbon. This ribbon is so pretty, ties beautifully, and the colour is truly exquisite.

🌼 Card Details:

  • Stamping: The coneflower was stamped in Early Espresso Ink and coloured using Stampin’ Blends in Strawberry Slush, Timid Tiger, and Pecan Pie.
  • Stem: Stamped in Early Espresso and coloured with Old Olive Stampin’ Blends.
  • Layering: The background includes a Textured Notes die-cut panel and Country Woods DSP.
  • Details: I added some Early Espresso ink speckling, a trio of Adhesive-backed Textured Dots, and layered everything with dimension for a card that really pops.

💡 Tips & Tricks:

Speckling Technique: Use an empty Water Painter or stiff bristle brush to flick diluted Early Espresso ink lightly across your background for organic splatter effects. Sometimes I use the reinkers to get a richer colour.

Blending Colours: For a soft ombré petal effect, start with the darkest colour at the petal base and blend out using the lighter tone in small circular motions. For these petals I also combined Strawberry Slush with Timid Tiger. The coneflower center is Timid Tiger combined with Pecan Pie.

Here is a full list of the supplies I used:


SHOP NOW

📦 Note on the Coneflower Celebration Bundle:

As of today, the Coneflower Celebration bundle is currently unavailable. However, Stampin’ Up! now has a fantastic “Notify Me” feature on all product pages!
If you’re logged into your account, you can click “Notify Me” to receive an email alert as soon as the bundle is back in stock. It’s a great way to make sure you don’t miss out when this popular bundle returns!

📌 Ready to get inspired? Head over to the HSS467 Challenge Page to see more interpretations of this fun sketch!

Want to Stamp With Me?

Join my July Card Class to learn new techniques and create beautiful projects. Spots are limited, so reserve yours today!

RSVP now for the July 26th class
July 2 – 9 you can get the full kit, after that the PDF is still available – find details here: https://stampinwithleah.ca/2025/07/02/introducing-the-jar-of-joy-card-class-to-go/

We are in month 3 of the In Colour Club – but it’s not too late to join and get these fabulous colours!

A great way to get all the new colours!

Looking for even more inspiration and more ways to enjoy stamping? Join my Stampin’ Up! Ink Pad Pals team!

  • Save 20%+ on your orders.
  • Get free access to my monthly card class tutorials.
  • Enjoy our monthly team meetings with stamping fun and collaboration.

Contact me to find out more or see the details on my website.

Join Now!


Live Replay: GDP498 Sketch Challenge – Sweet Jar Bundle + Bonus Project!

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In this week’s Live, I played along with the Global Design Project #498 sketch challenge to create a vibrant birthday card featuring the Sweet Jar Bundle—a playful sneak peek at the bundle I am featuring in my upcoming Sweet Jar Virtual Card Class!

Later in the day, I was inspired by the same sketch to create a second project—a gift card holder using the Online Exclusive Poppin’ By Bundle. This bold and fun card is perfect for movie lovers and teens!

👉 Watch the Sweet Jar card replay here

🎈 Sweet Jar Birthday Card (Live Video)
I used the Bright & Beautiful DSP (a Last Chance item!) and jar of stamped candles to make a fun, bright birthday card. The iridescent gems finish it off with a little shimmer! This layout is part of GDP498 and shows how you can quickly mix paper and dies for a playful, professional look.

🎬 Poppin’ By Gift Card Holder (Bonus Project)
Later in the day, I kept the creative energy going by using the same sketch to make a gift card holder with the Poppin’ By Bundle. I love the bold red and white stripes, stitched banner sentiment, and popcorn puff details. It’s such a fun card to give!

📌 Be sure to visit Global Design Project page to see the full challenge and more stunning inspiration from creators around the world.

Shop Here

Looking for more ways to enjoy stamping?

🧁 Don’t Miss out on the Sweet Jar Bundle? Join My Upcoming Class!
I’m thrilled to announce an upcoming Virtual Card Class featuring this exact bundle! You’ll get everything you need to make some super sweet projects—and yes, we’ll be using those darling jars.

See details and register here. https://form.jotform.com/leahdixon41/sweet-jar-bundle-virtual-card-class

📆 Date: July 3rd, 6pm Pacific Time
📍 Location: Online (Canada-wide shipping or local pickup)
📝 Register here: https://form.jotform.com/leahdixon41/sweet-jar-bundle-virtual-card-class

🚨 Note shipping: In the event of a postal strike, we will work out alternate shipping or pick-up options. This may incur additional costs depending on your location.

Time’s running out to join my Stampin’ Up! Ink Pad Pals team!

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Upcoming Card Classes

Looking for more crafting fun? Join my June Card Class to learn new techniques and create beautiful projects. Spots are limited, so reserve yours today!

RSVP now for the June 14th class
See the details and register here! – There is still time to register!

The three colours in this challenge are part of the new In Colors for 2025-2027. Below is great way to collect them all and get some great inspiration.

See the details and register here

✨ Thanks so much for stopping by my creative corner! I hope you’ll give this sketch a try and maybe even join in on this week’s #GDP498 challenge.

Click here to shop my online store.
Click here to access & view the current catalogs.
Click here to subscribe to those fun Paper Pumpkin kits of creativity!
Click here for more information about joining my Online Monthly Technique Club. Earn even more goodies by joining a club!
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Please subscribe to my newsletter, too! Click here and enter your email. When you include your birthday you will even be added to my birthday card mailing list 🙂

1 Layout, 3 Cards – Featuring Celebratory Sips DSP!

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This week, I took on the Global Design Project Challenge #GDP496 by CASE-ing the designer with a fun twist: using one layout to create three unique cards – each with a different stamp set, but all showcasing the Celebratory Sips DSP and Holographic Foil Resin Dots!

This kind of layout challenge is my favourite way to spark creativity. It keeps design decisions simple while allowing for endless variation. Here’s a closer look at each card:

🍹 Cheers & Sips Card

Bright, summery, and refreshing! I paired cocktail images from the Cheers & Sips bundle with Soft Sea Foam cardstock and Old Olive DSP. The embossed panel adds just the right texture.

🐷 Party Piggy Card

How fun is this little pig?! The Party Piggy stamp set brings such whimsy to the same layout. I swapped in a cheerful orange stripe for a party-perfect look.

🦋 Beautiful Butterflies Card

This third card has a completely different vibe – rich Secret Sea and sweet Strawberry Slush and Petunia Pop butterflies from Beautiful Butterflies make this one elegant and eye-catching. Same layout, totally different feel!

All three cards use the same:
✔️ Celebratory Sips DSP
✔️ Holographic Foil Resin Dots
✔️ Layout from GDP496

🎥 Catch the Replay:

🛒 Want to craft along?
✨ Click here to shop all supplies


Shop Here

💡 Crafting Tips from This Live:

Let patterned paper guide your colours – it makes mixing sets easy!

Pick one layout and play with different stamps for quick cardmaking.

Use dimensional layers to make simple layouts pop.

Repeat your embellishments for a cohesive collection of cards.


Don’t Miss These:

🎨 Celebratory Sips Stamp Camp
Create even more with this gorgeous DSP! This is the paper featured on today’s cards, and it’s part of my Celebratory Sips Mega Stamp Camp! Join now. You’ll get a fun-filled day of tutorials, project kits, and inspiration using this suite.
👉 Check out the details and sign up here!

See the details and register here!

🖌 Touch of Ink Class – Only ONE kit left!
Join us this weekend for a relaxing and creative class.

See the details and regoster here

Live near Port Coquitlam? Join me in person for a card class (or contact me to create your own monthly stampin’ group).

Register now for my June 14th or July 26thclass!

🌈 In Color Club is open!
Get all 5 new In Colors in a budget-friendly monthly subscription.

See the details and register here

🎁 Starter Kit Deal – Join my team and get extra product FREE!

Looking for more ways to enjoy stamping? Join my Stampin’ Up! Ink Pad Pals team! Right now we have a great Starter Kit deal!

In addition to the great price, there are a TON of other benefits:

  • Save 20%+ on your orders.
  • Get free access to my monthly card class tutorials.
  • Enjoy our monthly team meetings with stamping fun and collaboration.
  • Exclusive Demonstrator events by Stampin’ Up! such as Creative Convention.
  • and MUCH more!

Contact me to find out more or see the details on my website.

Join Now!

Which card is your favourite? Let me know in the comments! And don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube so you never miss a project.

Click here to shop my online store.
Click here to access & view the current catalogs.
Click here to subscribe to those fun Paper Pumpkin kits of creativity!
Click here for more information about joining my Online Monthly Technique Club. Earn even more goodies by joining a club!
Click here to learn more about joining my Ink Pad Pals Team. Get the MOST rewards including a discount on future products!
Follow me on social media! I share regularly on Pinterest, YouTube, and Facebook!
Please subscribe to my newsletter, too! Click here and enter your email. When you include your birthday you will even be added to my birthday card mailing list 🙂